Osterville man’s good humor is a memory-maker

Friday

Apr 20, 2012 at 2:00 AM

You have to admit there was nothing more magical than hearing the sound of an approaching ice cream truck when you were a kid.

John Watters

IN GOOD HUMOR – Ken Mattozzi of Ken's Ice Cream Novelties serves up free treats as part of Kids Day at the JFK Hyannis Museum. Anthony White of Yarmouth and Sydney Maddox of Hyannis gladly trade their wooden tokens for ice cream.

Ice cream nostalgia on wheels

You have to admit there was nothing more magical than hearing the sound of an approaching ice cream truck when you were a kid. Imagine, frozen ice cream novelties being delivered to your neighborhood. Osterville’s Ken Mattozzi has created a novelty side business of his own that stirs up those magical feelings with everybody who sees his unique ice cream truck.

Mattozzi retired from Verizon a couple of years ago. When the self-confessed vintage cars enthusiast saw a 1965 Good Humor “Hopper” ice cream truck for sale, he had a dream of his own.

“I’ve always had an attraction to antique and classic vehicles,” said Mattozzi. “I’ve owned several and restored them over the years. When I saw the Good Humor truck, it was the best of both worlds. It brought back so many good memories to me.”

After 28 years with Verizon, Mattozzi had the time to take on the Good Humor project and spent hours meticulously restoring the 1965 Ford.

“They were called Hopper trucks because the passenger side of the cab was open so that the drivers could hop in and out from the sidewalk curb,” said Mattozzi who has become something of a Good Humor historian. “They started manufacturing their trucks in the early 1920s and made them right up to 1969.”

Mattozzi explained that Good Humor would order the rolling chassises from Ford, and then they would be sent to Hackney Brothers in North Carolina where the cab and refrigeration units were attached and the trucks painted white. Good Humor Ice Cream trucks were used mostly in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and around Chicago.

The Cape’s only “Good Humor” man doesn’t drive a route, but instead does private functions and corporate events and antique car shows. He does about 20 a year, but sees that growing after a website for his business goes on-line next month.

Last year he was hired to distribute ice cream to the cast and crew of the Adam Sandler movie being filmed on the Cape. “That was a lot of fun,” he said. “I got to meet many of the stars of the movie.

Matozzi said he buys all his ice cream from Good Humor, “so that the product and the truck are accurate. Whatever I have left over, I’ve donated to local groups such as Independence House and Angel House, I believe it’s important to give back to the community.”

The sight of his truck draws people like a magnet, caught up in nostalgia.

“The most memorable moment for me was when an 80-year-old man was looking at my truck and started telling me stories about his youth and his fondness for Good Humor,” said the ice cream man. “He looked at me with an inquisitive look and then, like a little kid, asked me if it would be all right for him to ring the bell. After pulling the bells rope and ringing it, he had just a great smile on his face.”